Beginning Moving Tasks Checklist

You just found out that you’re moving, and a new home is waiting for you. Whether you’re going local or long-distance, All My Sons Moving & Storage can provide help and support during this stressful season. 

Take a deep breath and start with the basics. Here are five tasks to complete when you learn you are moving.

The first order of business for any move is to formulate a plan. Write down a moving checklist of all the things you need to accomplish and the date they should be completed by.

Some sample items that can go on your full moving checklist include:

• Researching Moving Companies: Look for licensed and insured pros to help support you during your move. Get quotes and compare prices and availability for all your preferred moving companies.

• Gathering Packing Supplies: Start looking for free moving boxes in your community, or purchase packing supplies from a moving retailer to get started boxing up your home inventory. 

• Scheduling Utilities for Disconnection or Transfer: Some services you will be able to carry to your new area, especially if you are moving local. Call your providers for your utilities like electricity, gas, and internet to determine what you need to schedule for disconnection or transfer.

• Updating Your Address: You can file a change of address with USPS up to 30 days before your move. You can check this list of who to notify of your move to see where else you might need to update your address.

Write out a list of moving costs and determine how much you have to set aside for your move. Some typical moving expenses include moving supplies, truck and equipment rental, professional movers, security deposits, storage unit rentals, and fuel costs.

Watch out for hidden costs of moving like cleaning fees, repairs, and changes in your insurance premium.

The fastest and easiest way to save time, money, and energy on your next move is to only move the items that are going to keep serving you at your next home. Take some time before you start packing or during the packing process to evaluate all your belongings.

Sort items into four major categories.

• Keep: The items you couldn’t dream of parting with yet.

• Sell: Items in great condition that you do not desire to keep could make you a few extra dollars for your moving budget. Price items fairly and always exchange items you sell in a safe location.

• Donate: Items in good condition that you do not desire to keep could help someone in need. Give these items to a charity of your choice. 

• Discard: Items that are not in good condition or would be meaningless to another person should be disposed of. For bulky unwanted junk items like old furniture, broken appliances, or electronics, call Junk.com for fast and eco-friendly disposal solutions.

 A moving inventory can serve you long after your move is over by providing a record of your most treasured items and their condition. This will come in handy in the event of a home disaster like a flood or fire.

Number all your boxes and write down the contents of each box in a separate location like in an app, spreadsheet, or notebook.

The very first items you should begin packing will be the items you will not miss if they need to sit in a box for a few weeks. Some examples of these items are listed below.

• Off-Season Clothes: Check the weather outside and pack everything that doesn’t fit the current temperature. Summer moves will see you packing the coats, scarves, and snow boots while a holiday season move will have you packing the swimsuits and flip flops first. 

• Extra Blankets, Towels, and Sheets: Raids the backs of your linen closets, you can pack all the extra items you keep on hand with the non-essentials. These soft items make great cushioning for other delicate non-essentials like collectibles, keepsakes, and décor items.

• Keepsake Boxes: Check closets for boxes already packed with sentimental items and make sure items are secure for a move if you decide to continue to keep them.

• Holiday Decorations: Unless you’re making a holiday-season move, these items are usually already in boxes. Check boxes for wear and damage and repack as necessary. 

• Books: If you’re a happy bibliophile then you have a library you treasure. Chances are you won’t be actively reading your entire collection up until the moment of your move. Set aside unread books you’d like to read during your transition to your new home, and pack up the rest.

• Photo Albums: Scrapbooks and photo albums not being admired on a daily basis should go into boxes for the move. 

• Media Collections: CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, and physical video game copies can usually sit in a box for a few weeks. Pack physical media collections like discs and vinyl records.

• Décor and Artwork: The items you use to decorate make your space feel like home, but chances are if you put them in a box then you’ll still be able to live functionally for awhile before you miss them. 

Once the non-essentials are packed, you can move into packing the essentials when your move is imminent.

Your move is now well on the way. Be sure to check the Final Moving Tasks Checklist to make sure everything is in order for you to leave your old home behind.

Moving soon? All My Sons Moving & Storage tailors services to match the needs of your move, so you can have everything from a full-service move with professional packing to just some help with the heavy lifting. Click the quote button below to get started on your move.